We can learn from the Yaggi Cheese House
Josef “Joe” Yaggi, also spelled “Jäggi” in Swiss/German, was born in Solo-Thurn, Switzerland in 1881. He founded the Yaggi Cheese House, located on Stonecreek Road in New Philadelphia in 1924 and operated it until 1960 when he and his wife Bertha passed away. The business is still operated by Yaggi family members Dave Yaggi and his wife Coke and Gail Yaggi Schreiner, children of second-generation owner Bill Yaggi, who passed away in 2014.
The Ohio 135th General Assembly honored the event with Resolution 548, which states, “Over the past 100 years, Yaggi Cheese House has enhanced the quality of life in the surrounding area, and it has set the standard to which other enterprises can aspire.”
I write this not only to shed light on a notable local achievement — and the good people responsible for operating a successful business for 100 years — but to encourage everyone to relate it to the upcoming 2024 local, state and national elections. If you would, please consider using it as a guide as you research candidates and issues. It might help you answer questions such as the following:
—How does this candidate/issue represent my values as an individual, a member of a family and of the community in which I live?
—Does this candidate understand our area’s past/current/future economic profile and its importance?
—Does this candidate share my work ethic, my patriotism, my sense of fairness, and my ability to try and seek consensus/compromise to solve problems and identify opportunities?
—Does this candidate care about the Tuscarawas Valley for the long-term — 10, 20 and 30 years from now or more?
We can learn from the Yaggi Cheese House's 100th anniversary and hope for the best in November.
Tom Adamich
New Philadelphia